Meet Our Team
The heart and soul of Apple Jacks
Every person on our team is here because they genuinely love working with children. All Apple Jacks employees are CPR certified, background-checked, and fingerprinted. Each of our three locations has a dedicated head teacher who knows your child by name — not by number.
Austin Krider
Director & Owner
Austin has been part of Apple Jacks since the very beginning — literally. His mother, AJ, started the business when he was born so she could stay home and raise him. Growing up in and around the daycare gave Austin a front-row seat to what quality childcare looks like. He officially took over operations in 2021 after graduating from Siena Heights University with a Business degree, where he also played football. Austin has kept the standard his mother set while making meaningful improvements to grow Apple Jacks into what it is today. His philosophy is simple: provide great care, communicate honestly, and make every child feel at home.
Caelan Krider
Manager
Caelan has been part of the Apple Jacks family for over five years. During that time, she's served as Head Teacher at all three locations — giving her deep knowledge of every age group and every aspect of our operation. Born and raised in Fort Wayne, Caelan is living her dream working with children. Her hard work, determination, and genuine love for what she does shows every single day. When she's not at Apple Jacks, you'll find her walking her dogs or spending time with family.
Miss Shalin
Infant & Toddler Head Teacher
Miss Shalin has been a valued member of the Apple Jacks family for over seven years. She combines a compassionate heart for children with the confidence and leadership needed to guide our Infant & Toddler program. She is deeply committed to providing exceptional care, building strong relationships with each child, and maintaining open, honest communication with families. Parents can have complete confidence knowing their child is in a safe, nurturing, and loving environment under Miss Shalin's care. She leads our Infant & Toddler program at our Marchfield Place location.
Shana Mikels
Preschool Head Teacher
If energy were a superpower, Shana would be unstoppable. Her contagious enthusiasm, warmth, and creativity make her the perfect fit for the preschool age group — a stage that's equal parts fun and challenging. Shana has been an incredible asset to Apple Jacks, and her ability to connect with children while keeping them engaged and learning is something special. She leads our Preschool program at our Spurwood Court location.
Kierra Ormsby
Pre-K Head Teacher
Kierra's love and passion for teaching has grown tremendously over the past 3 years. She first started as an assistant teacher at our Preschool location. Fast forward 3 years later and she has earned a Head Teacher position at our Pre-K location. She has incredible patience and excels at communication. Kierra loves to create great relationships with her families and establish strong trust. She has two young children enrolled here at Apple Jacks and loves being with them in her free time. She leads our Pre-K program at our Spurwood Court location.